John 6 14

John 6:14 kjv

Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

John 6:14 nkjv

Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world."

John 6:14 niv

After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world."

John 6:14 esv

When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!"

John 6:14 nlt

When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, "Surely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!"

John 6 verses

John 6 14 Meaning

John 6:14 states the collective conclusion drawn by the people who witnessed Jesus miraculously feed five thousand men with only five barley loaves and two small fish. They declared Him to be "the Prophet who is to come into the world," indicating their belief that He was the long-awaited prophetic figure promised by God, reminiscent of Moses. Their recognition, while correct in acknowledging His divine power, was often tinged with carnal expectations, particularly a desire for an earthly king or deliverer from Roman rule.

John 6 14 Context

John 6:14 immediately follows Jesus' miraculous feeding of the five thousand. This sign, performed on the eve of the Passover, profoundly impacted the large multitude present. In the broader chapter, Jesus is presented as the provider of physical sustenance (the bread) but then swiftly shifts to declare Himself as the "Bread of Life" (Jn 6:35), offering eternal spiritual sustenance. This contrast highlights the crowd's often-materialistic understanding of His ministry. Historically and culturally, first-century Judaism anticipated the coming of a great prophet like Moses, who would lead Israel and perform powerful signs, often envisioning a political deliverer to free them from Roman oppression. The manna in the wilderness was a significant part of their memory and expectation, making the miracle of the loaves a powerful fulfillment in their eyes.

John 6 14 Word analysis

• Therefore (οὖν, oun): A consequential particle, linking the crowd's conclusion directly to the immediately preceding event—the feeding of the five thousand. It highlights the logical (from their perspective) result of witnessing the sign.
• when (ὅτε, hote): A temporal conjunction, setting the precise moment their realization occurred, following their observation.
• the people (οἱ ἄνθρωποι, hoi anthrōpoi): Refers specifically to the general multitude who had been fed, not just Jesus' disciples. It signifies a public and widespread conclusion among the observers.
• saw (εἶδον, eidon): Imperfect tense of horao (to see), indicating an ongoing or completed act of direct, personal observation. They weren't just told; they saw with their own eyes the miraculous distribution.
• the sign (τὸ σημεῖον, to sēmeion): The definite article to emphasizes a specific, significant event. In John's Gospel, a sēmeion is not merely a wonder but a pointer or indicator that reveals a deeper truth about Jesus' identity as the Christ and Son of God, though the crowd's interpretation often falls short of the full spiritual meaning.
• that He did (ὃ ἐποίησεν, ho epoiēsen): Emphasizes Jesus' unique power and agency in performing the miracle, separating Him from others.
• they said (ἔλεγον, elegon): Imperfect tense, suggesting a general, perhaps ongoing or repeated, declaration among the crowd.
• This (οὗτός, houtos): A demonstrative pronoun, pointing directly to Jesus as the object of their declaration.
• is indeed (ἀληθῶς, alēthōs): An adverb meaning "truly," "genuinely," or "in truth." It signifies the crowd's firm and settled conviction, a strong affirmation of their belief about Jesus.
• the Prophet (ὁ Προφήτης, ho Prophētēs): The definite article ho is crucial. It does not refer to a prophet in general, but the specific, long-awaited prophetic figure foretold in the Old Testament, particularly the "prophet like Moses" of Deut 18:15, 18. This figure was expected to be a deliverer and teacher with divine authority.
• who is to come into the world (ὁ ἐρχόμενος εἰς τὸν κόσμον, ho erchomenos eis ton kosmon): This phrase describes the expected prophetic figure as one with a divine commission and eschatological significance, sent from God for a specific purpose related to human existence and history. It connects to the Messianic expectations of their time, although they often misconstrued the nature of His coming and mission.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Therefore, when the people saw the sign that He did": This phrase establishes a cause-and-effect relationship. The crowd's immediate and unanimous conclusion was a direct response to their witnessing of Jesus' supernatural power. It underscores the visual and tangible evidence that drove their conviction, emphasizing the miracle's profound impact on their understanding of Jesus.
• "This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world": This collective declaration encapsulates the culmination of their theological and historical expectations. They firmly believed that Jesus embodied the foretold figure, a prophet uniquely designated by God for this specific time. While a correct acknowledgment of His prophetic identity, it often veiled their worldly desires for a nationalistic and political leader rather than a spiritual redeemer. Their understanding, while earnest, was incomplete concerning the true nature of the Messiah's kingdom.

John 6 14 Bonus Section

• The crowd's eagerness to declare Jesus "the Prophet" stemmed from a fervent desire for the re-establishment of the Davidic kingdom and an end to foreign rule. Their interpretation of Old Testament prophecies often leaned heavily towards nationalistic and worldly fulfillments.
• The definite article "the" before "Prophet" (Greek ho Prophētēs) indicates a unique, expected figure, distinct from any ordinary prophet. This title connects Jesus specifically to Moses and Elijah, pivotal figures in Israel's history whom they hoped would reappear or be emulated.
• John consistently uses the term sēmeion (sign) to signify miracles that serve a symbolic purpose, revealing aspects of Jesus' glory and identity, ultimately calling for faith. While the crowd "saw the sign," their subsequent actions (trying to make Him king) indicate that they largely missed its deeper, spiritual meaning, interpreting it through the lens of their worldly desires rather than discerning His divine nature.

John 6 14 Commentary

John 6:14 captures a pivotal moment of partial recognition and significant misunderstanding. The multitude, having just been miraculously fed, correctly identified Jesus as "the Prophet" (Deut 18:15), the one God promised to send like Moses. This perception arose from the astounding sign Jesus performed—His divine power mirroring Moses' provision of manna in the wilderness (Ex 16). Their declaration reflects a genuine acknowledgment of His divine authority and miraculous ability, placing Him squarely within the framework of their long-held messianic and prophetic expectations.

However, their understanding remained superficial. The "sign" (Greek sēmeion), for John, is meant to point beyond itself to Jesus' divine identity as the Son of God. While the crowd recognized a prophet, they immediately sought to twist this spiritual office into an earthly, political kingship, attempting to take Him by force (Jn 6:15) and crown Him their liberator from Roman oppression. Their expectation of "the Prophet" was primarily that of a leader who would provide material sustenance and deliver them politically, rather than the spiritual Bread of Life who offers salvation and eternal life. This verse sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent discourse on the Bread of Life, where He confronts and corrects their material focus, revealing the true spiritual nature of His mission and His unique relationship with the Father.